Process of conducting chemical reactions



Oct. 15, 1929. G. D. BAGLEY PROCESS OF CONDUCTING CHEMICAL REACTIONS Filed Feb. 26, 1925 ATTORNEYS.

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Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GLEN D. BAGLEY, OF FLUSHING, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CARBIDE & CARBON CHEMI- CALS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PROCESS OF CONDUCTING CHEMICAL REACTIONS Application filed February 26, 1925. Serial No. 11,884.

This invention relates to a process for conducting chemical reactions and has for'an object the manufacture of chemical produzts by bringing reactive substances, either gaseous or liquid or both, into intimate relation in the zone of an electric arc submerged in a suitable liquid. The submerging liquid may be so chosen in many cases that it furnishes one or more of constituents of the desired product. In the case of many compounds, and particularly organic compounds, while it has been recognized that they could be formed by subjecting suitable materials to the action of the electric are, it has been impossible to produce them in quantity by that method because of their tendency to decompose under the temperature conditions obtaining. By submerging the arc in a suitable liquid which serves as a cooling medium, decomposition of the newly formed compound or compounds is-prcvented.

While many reactions which may be carried on under the conditions above indicated will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, the invention will be described with particular reference to the manufacture of nitrogen compounds, for example, hydrocyanic acid, and one of the objects of the inventionconsists in the provision of a simple process for the manufacture of this product with a high operating efliciency.

Hydrocyanic acid has been made heretofore by passing a mixture of acetylene and nitrogen through an electric are. This method has not, however, proven commercially feasible because of the comparatively high cost of acetylene as a starting material. It has also been proposed to use cheaper hydrocarbon gases as well as the vapors of liquid hydrocarbons, but with all of these materials diflicultics have occurred due to the deposition of carbon and consequent obstruction of portions of the apparatus used. Further, the yields of hydrocyanic acid which were obtained. by the use oithe cheaper materials above-mentioned have been low.

Ihave found that good yields of hydrocyanic acid can be obtained by operating an electric arc while submerged in a suitable liquid and bringing nitrogen and a hydrocarbon compound into reactive relation in the vicinity of the arc. While I do not intend that my invention shall be restricted by any theory advanced, it is probable that the arc decomposes the hydrocarbon in such manner that its ele ments are brought into atomic condition. In partat least, they combine with nitrogen according to the equation The surrounding liquid acts as a cooling medium, preventing decomposition of the hydro cyanic acid after it has been formed.

According to the preferred embodiment of my invention, I submerge the are in a bath containing a hydrocarbon and introduce a stream of nitrogen into the bath in the zone of the are. The bath may contain a single hydrocarbon or a mixture of hydrocarbons and these may be dissolved in or emulsifie with other liquids. The cheap and fluid commercial hydrocarbon mixtures, such as kerosene and fuel oil, are preferred, but any hydrocarbon which can be maintained in a liquid condition under the conditions obtaining in carrying on the process may be used. Such a bath, in addition to acting as a cooling medium, furnishes the hydrogen and carbon necessary for the formation of hydrocyanic acid.

In the accompanying drawing, which shows a vertical elevation of an apparatus suitable for carrying out the process, 1 is a retort or a reaction vessel having a cover 2 secured thereto by screws or bolts 3. Electrodes 5 and 6 are ositioned within the lower portion of the ret rt, the electrode 5 being suspended from the cover 2 and insulated therefrom by suitable insulation 4, and the electrode 6 being passed through the bottom of the retort 1 and held in fixed relation thereto. The electrode 5 is adjustable to and from the electrode 6 by means of the hand wheel 13. Suitable leads 7 and 8 connecting the electrodes in circuit with a suitable source of current are provided. The electrodes 6 is shown as hollow and in the form of a nozzle through which nitrogen or other gas may be introduced into the field of the are from a suitable source of supply ,by means of the pipe 14. An outlet pipe 9 is connected to the u per part of the fretort for the purpose of lea ing oil? the gaseous products of the reaction. The pipe 9 15 shown as connected through a suit-' able T connection with a pipe 10 leading'to means for separating the gaseous products and recovering the hydrocyanic acid. ()ne outlet of the T is connected to a pipe 11 leading to the lower part of the retort 1. The remainin outlet of the T is provided with a remova le closure 12 through which oil or other liquid may be introduced for filling the retdrt.

In carrying out the invention the retort 1 0 is filled with kerosene, fuel oil or other suitable liquid hydrocarbon to a level considerably above the electrodes, as shown for example by dotted line in' the drawin An arc is then struck between the 'electro es and at the same time nitrogen gas is forced into the retort through the hollow electrode 6. The hydrocyanic acid gas formed passes upward through the overlying oil, which acts as a cooling medium preventing decomposition of thehydrocyani'c acid, and is led off through the.pipes 9 and 10 and recovered in any suitable way as it is well understood.

I Free carbon released by decom osition of the hydrocarbon is not deposited ut is held in suspension in the oil. If desired, it may be recovered as carbon black by separating it from the bath in any convenient manner.

In addition to hydrocyanic acid considerable quantities of acetylene, ethylene and hydrogen are produced. Under some conditions other nitrogen compounds may he formed. The hydrocyanic acid gas ma be separated from the other aseous prodiicts of the reaction in any suitab e manner, as for example, by treating the gaseous mixture with caustic alkali and recovering the hydrocyanic acid as alkali metal cyanide. The other gaseous products may be separated from oneanother by known methods and utilized commercially.

By the expression suitable liquid is meant any liquid which will not in decomposing under the influence of the electric arc furnish decomposition products which are incompatible with the carrying .on of the desire reaction. In addition to the oils above mentioned man other liquidsmay be used.

It is to hem erstood that my process may be carried out either by maintaining a pool of oil about the arc and leading a stream of nitrogen thereinto, or by circulating both the oil and nitrogen about the arc.

I claim:

1. Process of making which consists in maintaining an electric arc beneath the surface of a bath containing a hydrocarbon oil and bringing nitrogen into re.- afitive relation with the oil in the vicinity of t e are.

which consists in locally decom osing a portion of a bath containing a iquid hydrocarbon and bringin nitrogen into reactive relation with said ecomposed'portion beneath the surface of the bath.

3. Process of making hydrocyanic acid,

which consists in introducing a stream of nitrogen into a liquid-hydrocarbon, passing compoundo which comprises maintaining an Y electric arc, andsubmerging the arc 1n a liquid containing a hydrocarbon oil and nitro- I In testimony whereof, I aflix my s1 ature.

GLEN D. BAG EY.

hydrocyanic acid 1 2. Process of making hydrocyanic acid 

